I have no brakes!

[chocolatecakeystuff]

I've had to hoss for a while, but she'd been unsound pretty much since I got her - she's now sound and in work, I have her in a eggbutt snaffle, however the fitter she's getting - the less brakes I have. I know she's excitable at the best of times, but it's really starting to effect our schooling. I daren't do anything more than walking on hacks because I know we wont be able to stop. Any ideas? I've got my first lesson booked on her for next week, do I try a stronger bit or just more schooling? She's been back in work for a few months so its not just being fresh iyswim

[goodasitgets]

Oops just realised this is a late post but I will post anyway as interested to how you are getting on
I've found there seems to be two types of horses. The first type settle by repetition, so trotting a serpentine repeatedly calms them because they know what to expect
The second type anticipates and needs change to challenge and settle them, so trot a serpentine, then add 10m circles each time you hit the track.
My mare loves to anticipate so if I canter then trot and change the rein she's a bit "canter? Canter? Canter?!" I basically can't tighten up on her at all, she wants me to grab at her and I totally refuse to
Unless she's being pig ignorant say I ask for a downwards transition and don't get it, I ask more strongly, if she still refuses I use the fence or put her on a 10m circle and really say "NO". Then loads of praise and back to chilled again
It's just figuring what YOUR horse needs, is it repetition to calm the brain or change to challenge?

[catinbootz]

Oh - and re the polework. Incorporate them in your schooling. Poles followed by immediate downward transitions. She will more than likely resist/pull/shoot backwards at first. Try poles then immediately into a leg yield or something as simple as weaving between cones.

[catinbootz]

Try a loose ring instead of an eggbutt. Eggbutts have a 'dead' feel in the mouth. I hate them unless for totally unbalanced, novice riders.

Keep her mind occupied - don't get caught up in repetition. Try lots of transitions, school shapes, poles. Direct transitions. She is probably very bright and bored easily. Always stay one step ahead - don't let her predict what you're hoping to do. Don't always canter at the corner, use half 20m circles across the schools and make the canter transition on the centre line. Incorporate basic lateral work.

A good instructor should be able to help. Good luck!

[Pixel]

Glad you are ok! Oh well, it was worth a try I suppose, at least now you know not to take advice from me in future...

Well personally I'd be changing the bit, at least for hacking, safety first and all that. There's no reason why you can't persevere with your snaffle for schooling and use something stronger when out is there? If you feel more in control and therefore able to take longer hacks she might settle enough for you to go back to the snaffle anyway.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

No Pixel she glides over them gracefully THEN tanks off haha

[chocolatecakeystuff]

I'm alive -however I don't think I shall be repeating the exercise! Never knew she could get her arse end for far off the ground!

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Pmsl pixel don't worry I'm insured! They're getting the showjumps out at the yard tomorrow - I'm sooo totally jealous that she's not ready to jump at the moment as well!

[Pixel]

That thing you said about the poles (her rushing over them and then running off), do you think she is getting anxious at all rather than excitable? It's just that rushing over poles and fences can sometimes be a sign of anxiety rather than keenness. They are too genuine to refuse but want to get the scary thing over with as soon as possible.

[Pixel]

Well you'd better report back or I'll worry I've killed you! .

[Sunnydaysablazeinhope]

Hello, how'd it go? :)

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Ummm you know I'm not entirely sure - On a good day, we'd probably just keep going until she got bored lol - on a nutty day... it could be entertaining. I try to keep her on a reasonably loose reign if I can or she just argues with me anyway iyswim. Will give it a go tomorrow & report back

[Pixel]

What would happen if you just gave her the reins and let her trot round until she'd got it out of her system? (I wouldn't suggest if you hadn't said you feel confident on her). Would she get wildly out of control or would she then settle down and start listening to you?

[chocolatecakeystuff]

I'm using a drop noseband - happy to try changing it - don't think she needs a fash or anything.
Um moichaff may not technicay be hard feed, but it's sti feeed which I reay don' want to do.
Yes she gets bored quicky, I have to change it about ots (pease excuse typing the l button isn't working on my aptop)

[Pixel]

There's always Mollichaff Calmer I guess, though I've never tried it.

[FlockOfTwats]

Re calmers; My section D wasn't allowed hard feed becausepretty much anything made him loopy and we had plenty of grazing anyway, if i had togive him anything it was witha handful of easy rider.

Could it be that she is getting bored? Both of the ponies that ive done (One mine one a friends) that had no brakes seemed more bored. I had to constantly be one step ahead, and never ever just slack off and tootle along as that's when the issues started - I found lots of circles, serpintines, transitions, half halts and changing the rein at random points helped.

[ThePrisonerOfAzkaban]

What noseband ate you using? More often then not a change in noseband works better then changing the bit. But most change the bit first

[gelati3]

Agree with Pixel. We had a nutty chestnut mare and a magnesium supplement certainly seemed to calm her down. I also used to find that doing plenty of transitions (including rein back) and changes of rein, circling etc in the schooling sessions got her paying attention.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Pixel guess I could use a calmer, but she's not excitable on the ground & the chances are I'd have to hard feed to get it in her - which I don't want to do - she's in a paddock with not much grass & I strip graze her (she's had a lot of weight to lose after all that time off) No hard feed at all. Will let you all know how we get on for our lesson Wednesday

[chocolatecakeystuff]

She is forward going - but that's not the issue. Controlling speed of walk/trot & canter isn't an issue it's just the downward transitions that piss me off rather than frighten me. I don't want it to constantly be a battle. I guess it might jusy be one of those things & I just have to put up with it, but obviously in terms of hacking out we do need to have breaks to a degree or we could find ourselves in a dangerous situation.

[Flexiblefriend]

Sorry, I didn't mean to try to teach you to suck eggs. I hope the instructor can come up with some suggestion. It sounds like you've tried pretty much everything!

[Zazzles007]

OP it sounds like you have a forward/hot horse, which makes you a bit nervous, and therefore want to apply the brakes. And when you try to do a schooling exercise, she does it a few times, but then tries to evade by running out from under you, which exacerbates the situation, and becomes a vicious circle. Does this sound familiar?

The thing is, you are going to have to learn how to ride a hot/forward horse, and I would suggest getting instruction to help you with that. The first things to work on with a hot and sensitive horse are relaxation and rhythm. Often a horse is tense because the rider is tense. Even though you may feel calm outwardly, any muscle tension you have is transferred through the saddle to the horse, and a sensitive horse will pick up on that. So as you ride, do a mental check on your muscles, and relax them. Rhythmic breathing while you ride also helps.

On the rhythm side, she needs to learn that you want a steady pace in trot and canter. I would suggest riding in a large area where you can change direction occasionally. Start in trot, and this might make you feel silly, but sing or hum quietly to her. She won't be able to help herself, she will trot to the rhythm of your humming. If she starts to speed up, give her a vocal command "Uh uh, aaaanndddd wwhooooaaaaaaa" in a deep and calm voice. This works if you are calm, clear and consistent with your aids. With time and repetition, you will find that you get the 'whoa' when you want it, and she won't be running away from your leg.

HTH

[Pixel]

So tack, teeth, back etc all ok, and she's the same whoever rides her so it's probably not you... How about feed? Is she having hard feed or lots of spring grass? Have you thought about trying a calming supplement of some kind?

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Yeah I think you're right cantering may be a push, we've only just started any canter work at all (and have the same breaking problem as in trot) Have had a few different people ride her & have the same issue so I don't think it's me tensing up, but I guess it could be - however she's a good girl and I feel safe even without brakes so don't think I am..
We have the same issue with poles, she's unfortunately such a pro she doesn't even seem to think about where to put her feet, just kind of glides over them (and then takes off hahah)
Just looking forward to our first lesson next week maybe my instructor will be able to shed some light on it all.

[Sunnydaysablazeinhope]

Re reading unsure cantering possible.... I'll have another think....

[Sunnydaysablazeinhope]

Final one at the moment, when you sit and half holt where are your lower legs? I've seen and been victim of asking to stop but in fear and nerves tense up lower leg and unconsciously squeezing on more tightly than I knew! Could you be saying go on one hand but stop on the other?